Portable electric fuse-lighter.



A. S. COLE.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC FUSE LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. 1916.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

AIIIIIIIIllllIIIlI/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ALBERT S. COLE, OF LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO COAST MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION F DELA- PORTABLE ELECTRIC FUSE-LIGHTER.

1,262,307, Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 9,1918,

Applicationled May 23, 1916. Serial 1\To.99,?,19.` l Y To all whom t may conc-ern.'

Be it lmown that I, ALBERT S. COLE, a

'citizen of the United States, residing at Livermore, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Electric Fuse-Lighters; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification. l

This invention is a novel portable electrical apparatus for'igniting fuse, which I calla portable electric yfuse lighter, and is especially designed for igniting or setting off fuse in mines, quarries and other places where fuses are used.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that can be conveniently carvriedby a miner or other person, and which comprises an electric battery, current amplifying devices, and spark producing devices, by which the miner can ignite an ordinary powder fuse when desired, without danger to himself. The apparatus is so constructed that it will produce la stream of electric sparks -by simply pressing a key; and such fuse lighter can be readily carried to any part o'f a mine; and is self contained,

and independent of any wall conductors,

and does not have to be plugged into a socket or connected with extraneous electrical conductors; and the igniting operations of the lighter may be controlled by one hand.

A -practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the invention consists inthe novel construction combination and arrange- 'ments of elements hereinafter describedand batteries, altransformer 3, and a condenser 4;, all of which may be of any suitable construction, and are assembled in the casing in compact order.

The igniter proper is electrically connected with the electrical devices in the holder, and the operative parts of the igniter are preferably mounted in or on a casing; preferably composed of a cylindric body 8A formed of insulating .material or fiber, and closed at its ends by plugs 8a and 8b preferably of hard rubber.` The plug 8a is provided with two parallel longitudinal bores in which are secured tubes 8, which tricity and with a circuit closer as hereinafter explained.

l Short circuiting or sparking between the tubes 8 or members 9, 9a is prevented by means of a projecting rib 8 on the plug 8a,

which rib extends between said tubes .8 and toward the points of the members as shown in the drawings. It will be observed by reference to Fig. 3v by loosening either screw 8d the members9, 9a can be rotatorially adjusted in the tubes v8c so as to adjust their points toward or from each other .andproduce a spark gap of the desired extent.

The batteries 2 are connected in series by wire 2a, and a conductor 2b leadsvfrom the positive terminal of one battery to one terminal 5a of an interrupter 5, of any suitable construction, the other terminal 5b of said interrupter is connected by a wire 5 to the primary coil 3a of the transformer 3, of any suitable construction, having preferably a metal core 3", the other terminal of the pri-v mary coil 3f`- is connected by a wire,3 to one vioo pole 7a of a circuit closer mounted on the 'igniter casing 8. And from the other pole 7b of said closer a conductor 2 leads to the.

' minus terminal of the batteries 2, thus com pleting a circuit through the transformer primary when the circuit closer is closed. The portions of the several conductors, extending between the casing land the casing 8, are preferably incased in a rubber tube 7d to protect them and prevent tangling thereof and for convenience in transporting and handling the` apparatus.

One pole of the secondary winding 3 of the transformer is connected by a wire 3m to -one member of the vcondenser t, and the other terminal of the secondary winding 3 is connected to the wire 3c, and thereby to the pole 7a of the circuit closer on the casing 8; and this pole 7 is also connected by a wire 7 with the spark member 9a.

' other member of the condenser 4 is also conceL vspring 7 into electrical contact with Ythe pole 7b and close the primary circuit from the batteries through the primary induction coily and interrupter back to the batteries; .at the same time an induced circuit is closed from the secondary induction coil through the condenser, and the sparking members 9, 9 back to the secondary.

The primary current is rapidly periodi-l cally broken. by the interrupter, resulting in .thel production of a' powerful induced current, the voltage4 of which current is in 'creased bythe condenser in the well known manner; and such current passing between the points of. thesparking vmembers 9, 9a "will create sparks sutlicient to ignite a fuse.

When a fuse is ignited "the circuit closer is released, stopping the operation of the apparatus. l

The device is light andeasily transported and its eciency will be readily appreciated by miners and thoseen'g'aged in blasting operations.

In use-the miner swings'the knapsack or casing over hls shoulder, or carries it on his back, the circults normally remaining closed.

' vlf desired, and for convenience, an insulating member 10 may be provided on the handle 8 which'when the device is being transported can be inserted between the spring 7n and the 'pole 7b.

llt is obvious that those skilled in the art may'vary the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of. my invention, and there- `fore ll do not wish to be limited to such features except as may be required by the claims.

What claim is: f

l. In ainelectrical fuse lighter, a tubular ,I casing or handle, insulating closures, a pair v lofelectrodes or sparking member rotatorially adjustably mounted on said handle, a

'circuit closer, and conductors connecting The messo? said sparking members or electrodes and said circuit closer, substantially as described.

2. ln an electrical fuse lighter, a tubular casing .or handle, closures constructed of hard rubber for the respective ends of the casing, a pair of electrodes or sparking members rotatorially adjustably mounted iny one of said end closures; a circuit closer mounted on the casing, and conductors extending into the casing and connecting with said sparking members or electrodes andA the terminals of said circuit closer, substantially as described.

3. ln an electrical fuse lighting apparatus, the combination of a casing, an insulated head, a pair of rotato-rially adjustable sparking members mounted in said head having curved outer ends so that the points on the outer ends of said members may be adjusted toward or from each other to form the de'- sired spark gap by rotatorially adjusting said members.

4. In an electrical fuse lighting apparatus, the combination of a casing having an insulated head provided with a projecting rib on its outer end, a pair of tubes mounted in said head on opposite sides of said rib,

sparking members mounted in said head and 'having curved outer ends and rot'atorially adjustable so that the points on thev outer ends of said head may be adjusted toward or from each other to form the desired spark gap, with means for fastening the sparking members in adjusted position.

5. lln an electrical fuse lighter, a casing having an insulated head provided with a projecting vrib on its outer end, a pair of sparking members mounted in said head and adjustable to form the desired spark gap; and means for fastening the sparking members in adjusted position.

6. In an electrical fuse lighter, a casing having an insulated head, a pair of tubes mounted in said head, sparking members mounted in said tubes and having curved outer ends and adjustable to form the desired spark gap; and means for fastening the sparking members in adjusted position.

7. In an electrical fuse lighter, a casing having an insulated` head provided witha projecting `rib on its outer end, a pair of tubes mounted in said head, sparking memf bers mounted in said tubes and having curved outer ends and adjustable to form the desired spark gap; and means for fastening the sparking members in adjusted Vposition.

8. lin an electrical fuse lighter wherein a circuit closer, a battery, an interrupter, a transformer, conductors connecting the circuit closer terminals the transformer primary and the interrupter and the battery in circuit, and a condenser are employed; the combination of a casing having an insulated head provided with a projecting rib on its outer end, a. pair. of 'sparking members mounted in said head and adjustable to` form the desired spark gap; and conductors con nectin'g said sparking members, f condenser and secondary of the transformer in circuit, substantially as described.- Y.

9. In an electrical fuse lighter wherein a l combination of a casing having an insulated head, a pair of tubes mounted in said head,v

sparking members mounted in said head and adjustable to form'the desired spark gap; means for fastening the v'sparking members in adjusted position; and conductors con` lnec'ting said sparking members, condenser and secondary of thetransformerin circuit,

' substantially. asV described.

10. In al1-electrical fuselighter wherein a circuit closer, a battery, an interrupter, a transformer, conductors connecting the circuit closer terminals the transformer primary and the-interrupter. and the battery hay in circuit, and a condenser are employed; v

theeombination 0f a lcasing having an 1n` sulated'head provided with a projecting rib on its outerend, a pairof tubes mounted lin said head,l lsparking members mounted in said headand having curved outer ends and adjustable vto form the desired spark gap; i

means for fastening the sparking members in `adjusted position; and conductors connecting said sparking members, condenserand secondary of the transformer in circuit,

substantially as described. l v

In testimony that claim thev foregoingas my own, aiix my signature.

ALBERT s@ COLE. 

